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Georgian anger at Putin war claim Georgian anger at Putin war claim
(about 6 hours later)
Georgia's government has reacted with anger to claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Georgia is readying for war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.Georgia's government has reacted with anger to claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Georgia is readying for war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said Mr Putin was misrepresenting the facts on purpose and that Georgia had no plan to use force in the breakaway regions. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called Mr Putin's remarks "absurd" and said that Georgia had no plan to use force in the breakaway regions.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both seeking independence from Georgia.Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both seeking independence from Georgia.
Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained four Russians whom it said were spies.Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained four Russians whom it said were spies.
Following the arrests, Moscow imposed sanctions on Georgia and expelled hundreds of Georgians living in Russia.Following the arrests, Moscow imposed sanctions on Georgia and expelled hundreds of Georgians living in Russia.
US pressureUS pressure
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Moscow on Saturday as part of a regional tour aimed at bolstering support for the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea following its 9 October nuclear test. The Georgian government has vowed to reassert control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia but insists it will use peaceful methods.
The situation between Moscow and the pro-Western government in Tbilisi is expected to also be high on the agenda. "It's absurd," Mr Saakashvili said referring to Mr Putin's remarks. "We don't need a war."
Speaking to reporters accompanying her on a flight from Beijing to Moscow, Ms Rice said that she would try to get both sides to improve their strained relations. At a meeting with President Putin in Moscow on Saturday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint in relations with the pro-Western government in Tbilisi.
"We are asking the Georgians and the Russians to do everything they can to de-escalate the tensions," Ms Rice said. "I think we have been clear with both sides that cooler heads need to prevail here."
Democratic aspirations
As the crisis between the two countries continues, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there is a growing sense of anger in Georgia of what many people see as the Kremlin's extreme reaction to the arrest of four Russian military intelligence officers on spying charges last month.As the crisis between the two countries continues, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there is a growing sense of anger in Georgia of what many people see as the Kremlin's extreme reaction to the arrest of four Russian military intelligence officers on spying charges last month.
The foreign minister, Mr Bezhuashvili, described the situation as profoundly disturbing, saying that it was a clash of values between the democratic aspirations of Georgia and those of Russia, a country which was targeting people because of their ethnicity. Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili described the situation as profoundly disturbing, saying that it was a clash of values between the democratic aspirations of Georgia and those of Russia, a country which was targeting people because of their ethnicity.
The Speaker of the Georgian parliament, Nino Bergonatze, accused Russia of using nationalism as a weapon and turning Georgians into what she described as the image of the enemy. The speaker of the Georgian parliament, Nino Bergonatze, accused Russia of using nationalism as a weapon and turning Georgians into what she described as the image of the enemy.
Although both sides say they want to calm the tensions, our correspondent says, the uncompromising statements continue.Although both sides say they want to calm the tensions, our correspondent says, the uncompromising statements continue.